Residents' groups - the soul of community governance
Residents’ groups have been in existence in New Zealand for almost 150 years yet very little is known about them. The collection of residents’, ratepayers’ and progressive associations, community councils, neighbourhood committees and the like make up a part of the community governance sector that numbers over a thousand-strong. These groups are featured prominently in our news media, are active in local government affairs and expend many thousands of volunteer hours every year in their work in communities… but what exactly is that work?
The aim of this website and the supporting work that underlies it is to help create a network of grass-roots organisations around New Zealand that have the confidence to help communities govern themselves, grow opportunities for Kiwis and enhance the quality of life for all peoples.
The aim of this website and the supporting work that underlies it is to help create a network of grass-roots organisations around New Zealand that have the confidence to help communities govern themselves, grow opportunities for Kiwis and enhance the quality of life for all peoples.
What are residents' groups?
Residents’ groups (aka residents / neighbourhood / progressive associations or community councils) are often associated with communities of place: suburbs, villages and the like. Some rabble-rouse when property developers move in, some make submissions to local government, some keep an eye on their community or help distribute information to residents. The functions they undertake are often linked to both local government and community: lending credibility to the concept of residents’ groups being part of a wider ‘community governance’ sector.
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What is 'community governance'?
Community governance is, literally, “governance exercised by communities themselves, such as community self-management or citizen governance”. It is not solely a function of the State but is also a community-centric
activity with roots stretching deep in civil society. According to political expert Michael Woods it is "an activity outside of the scope of the local
council that embraces all activities that involve either the provision of
public services within the community, or the representation of community
interests to external agencies".
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